Norcliff by K.A. Connolly, a story of bravery and empowerment gets 4 stars from me.
Out: Now
Erin Hart loses her fiance and her parents on her wedding day after an attack by the neighboring Mortons. They have her parents hostage and want her to marry Ardent Morton so he can get control of her beloved Norcliff. Erin goes to the capital for help but fails to secure assistance from the King who professes inability to offer it. She must find allies of her own which she does in unexpected places and discovers unforeseen enemies...
After a good-hearted prologue that sets the stage for understanding some of the main characters we are steeped in a friendly, undeniably readable narrative with humor and earnestness threaded through it, tinged with relatable emotion. Hearty paragraphs rich in details pinpoint the exact images the author wants to convey of the characters, the places and life in this world. The infrequent figurative speech twinkled with imagination.
Politics, malicious gossip and machinations might color our protagonist's time at court, but the book really takes off with the discovery of a letter (you will know what I mean when you read it). The storyline becomes most thrilling and attention-grabbing and in no way predictable. The action is served to us in an appetizing manner.
Erin & Liana have grown up being apt pupils to Jax's teachings of fighting and the whatnot, and we definitely see that in action. The three of them are squad goals, the comfort and respect between them, how they help and care for each other. We admire how they deal with things, get justice and their clever plans. The addition of their yummy, instantly likeable ally is a worthy one. We welcome his charm and his courting. There were times when I wanted to yell at the characters for things they stupidly, in my opinion, even considered. But that just means I cared for them.
There is oftentimes a bit of whiplash when scenes change course abruptly. There are a certain amount of things that seem to be 'forgotten' then 'remembered' while others are repeated. These are a few minor mishaps in this more than entertaining tale.
Norcliff is the name of a place, but even though the book seems to focus on it and how its people defend it (those stories are usually the best), it is really about standing on your own two feet — forging your own path. An enjoyable tale with lords and ladies, chivalry, villainy and the preparations and heat of battle, ultimately gifted with great characters. A story of empowerment that shows us that anyone can be brave and it is worthwhile to fight for what you believe in.
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